CONTRACT WITH THE BILLIONAIRE

"You will get married to the second master of the Louis Family in place of your sister!"

"But Dad, people"

"People don't have to know it is you, you will be hidden under the veil. The second master of the Louis Family is an handicap anyway, he doesn't have the right to complain."

"Dad, if the patriarch find out he will be mad and angry. He might even kill me dad..." Ariel tried to explain but she was not paid any attention.

"It's your duty to make sure your sister's life doesn't get ruined, she is a superstar and you are nothing!. If I have to choose to sacrifice one of you, then it has to be you."

"After getting married to the handicap second master, it can't be revoked, so the family will have to accept you that way. They can't force you to divorce him."

Ariel lowered her head in defeat, her father was right. She was not a star like her sister, not even up to her sister's level of being a superstar. She had been a burden all her life. Her only worry was Ken. Ken would not take the news lightly.

"Dad, what about Ken? I am engaged to him, he will be heartbroken if he finds out about this...." Ariel muttered sniffling, she was stuck between obeying her dad and hurting the man she loved.

"I will do the explaining, you don't have to worry. Remember the marriage will only last for two years, after when the two years has passed, you can still get married to Ken." Edgar remarked in a convincing tone.

Ariel admitted defeat, she would obey her father. She only hoped Ken was willing to wait for her and not leave her after the two years has passed. She would sacrifice two years of her life for her family, it wasn't short but it wasn't long either.

"Ariel, you know I love you right? The same way I love your sister, I love you both equally. I am trying to make the best decision for you both, don't worry it will be fine." Edgar added rubbing Ariel's arm to console her.

Ariel's lips tightened into a smile, she nodded her head.

Standing at the end of the isle, Ariel thought about the conversation she had with her father two days prior to now. Her face was well hidden under the thick white veil, the people around all had smiles on their faces.

Although everyone was smiling, there was one person amongst the crowd who refused to smile. It was the man she was to marry, he sat in the wheel chair with a frown on his face. Although crippled and handicapped, he was good looking .

Ariel had got a clear of his face just yet, but from his side profile, she concluded that he looked good. Ariel braced herself for the new dimension her life was about to take, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath ready to walk down the isle.

"Don't be too fast Ariel, your father is suppose to walk you down the isle." Esther Ariel's step mother whispered in Ariel's ear, holding her back from walking forward.

"Ouch" Ariel Yelp in pain from her stepmother's hold, she hastily nodded her head and stood once again. In no time Edgar appeared before the crowd, he was all smiles and waves. He brought his hand forward and Ariel held onto it.

The walk on the isle felt like a journey of a thousand mile meant to end her life. Ariel felt no matter how hard she tried to brace herself and walk confidently, she would never be as confident as her sister.

"Walk properly Ariel, we don't want anyone getting suspicious." Edgar remarked pressing his fingers on her.

Ariel nodded and maintained her steps, at long last they got to the altar. While the people erupt in cheers, the bride and the groom frowned unhappy at their situation.

It felt like ages before the priest finished talking, it was time to say the vows. "Do you Alan Walker Louis, take Ariel Edgar as your lawfully wedded ....."

"Yes, I do." The groom interrupted the priest not giving him the chance to finish talking, he raised his brows towards Ariel to do same. There was an awkward silence in the crowd, the priest lost his composure for a brief moment before he regained it once again.

"Yes, I do too." Ariel whispered for only the ears of the priest and her groom. They couldn't tell who she was from her tone but the other people in the crowd would be able to tell she was a replacement, as they knew her sister's voice pretty well.

"By the power bestowed upon me, I now proclaim you man and wife! You may now kiss the bride." The priest remarked closing the book of vows.

Ariel was struck awkward by the priest words, her gaze landed on the man sitting on the wheelchair. Her husband, he was her husband now, he wore a cold and nonchalant expression on his face.

The people in the crowd cheered trying to dispense the awkward air. Alan gazed at the crowd with a cold look in his eyes, he gestured towards the man beside him who bent to hear him speak.

"If the wedding is over, I would like to return back to the villa now."

"Ah, yes second young master." The man bowed and quickly walked towards the patriarch of the family, he informed him what the second young master was demanding.

"Let the child go back, take his new wife along too. Her things will be brought by her family driver. He doesn't like the crowd, let him go." The old patriarch remarked with a wave of his hand smiling happily.

The man nodded and returned back to Alan's side. He gestured towards Ariel and asked the woman behind Ariel to lead Ariel on the way too. Soon the couple were out of sight.

Standing at the top of the staircase, a man clothes in black tuxedo stood with his hands akimbo. A smirk playing on his lips.

Standing at the top of the staircase, a man clothes in black tuxedo stood with his hands akimbo. A smirk playing on his lips.

"Young Master, why are you standing there. Please come in, I miss you already." A voice said in the empty. The man smiled one last time before turning and disappearing into the distance.

........................................

The journey to her new home felt like hell, it was painstakingly slow and tendinous. The air inside the car was stifling and it was an awkward moment. Ariel felt the need to move seats but she could not, as the bride she had to sit with her husband.

Casting her gaze to her husband, he was on his laptop typing furiously. His fingers were long fair and beautiful. They stood out perfectly well from his body. His fingers weren't the only outstanding thing about his body though.

His eyes, she had not noticed it before but his eyes were brown in color. It looked like a golden brown, if there was anything like that, Ariel thought to herself. His skin was fair and attractive, not only that he has a cool aura around him too.

Ariel was lost in checking her new husband out that she failed to realize he was gazing back at her.

Alan stared at the woman behind the veil, although her veil obstructed his view he could still feel the nervousness and tension in her body. He had noticed it earlier too when she was walking to the altar with her father beside her.

She was nervous and he had caught her rubbing her fingers nervously. He was supposed to be married to the supposed famous superstar in the city. He had already figure that the one he married was a replacement of the famous sister. He could tell that she was a beautiful lady, even though he couldn't get a clear view of her face.

He found Maria Edgar disgusting, the fake smiles she had on tv, hidden behind her eyes, is one who is always filled with contempt most of the times. He could discern people intentions even from afar.

Staring at the petite figure of the woman he was married to, he already had an idea of who she was. The hidden daughter of Edgar. The daughter who lived in the countryside for years, only to return a few years ago.

Alan brought himself out of his thoughts, he didn't have time to ponder on that now. He would do that later, for now he had other important things. Clearing his throat, he got the attention of his bride. His eyes pierced into hers and he watched how she quickly looked away.

Ariel scolded herself, she could not believe she had gotten herself lost in him.... Clearing her throat, Ariel focused her attention on the road.

Alan threw his bride a side gaze before returning his attention back to his laptop. In a moment, the car swirled towards one side of the road.

Alan's eyes turned cold, even today they decided not to give him a break. "Go head on, do not falter."

Ariel turned around wondering if he was talking to her only to see the driver nod, "What's going on?" Ariel asked taking note of the sudden change in the air.

Alan's expression remained cold, his eyes remained on the road. Suddenly he turned around with his upper body and with his hands, he pulled Ariel into his embrace.

Everything turned dark, total darkness before Ariel could and make sense of everything that's happening.

Ariel woke up finding herself on the bed, she sat up drowsily wiping her face, her eyes ran around the room in a moment.

Her head turned staring around her, she could not understand how she ended up on the bed, one moment they were on the road and then after that she couldn't remember what happened.

"Young Mistress, how do you feel?" A woman asked walking into the room, she placed a glass of juice on the table beside Ariel, her lips curled into a smile.

Ariel raised her eyes and they fell on the woman, "Who are you? Where is this?" Ariel questioned staring at the woman warily, a sense of danger over clouding her.

The woman burst out laughing, she sat on the bed and took out her ID from her pants. "Here you go. My name is Stella, head doctor of this villa."

"By the way, you are in Apple's Villa. This villa belongs to your husband, Second young master Alan." Stella explained with a smile. Her short brown hair danced on her shoulders.

The sense of urgency in Ariel dropped a bit, she mouthed an 'oh' and nodded her head.

"So how are you feeling young Mistress? Do you feel sore anywhere?" Stella questioned worried, although she had done a check up on the lady and found that everything was okay.

"Ermmmmm I'm fine, except my foot. I feel sore on my foot, I think maybe the heels I wore caused the soreness I'm feelings on my feet." Ariel answered bringing her legs out of the bed cover.

Stella couldn't help but laugh, she was talking about something so serious but the young lady was just talking about her legs.

She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted, "Stella prepare an ointment for her legs."

Ariel raised her head, her gaze fell on the man sitting on the wheelchair, the wheelchair slowly rolled on the ground till it arrived beside the bed.

"Yes Young Master." Stella answered, stinking out her tongue she walked out of the room.

Ariel was quick to stand up from the bed, she stood in front of her husband. It was then she realized that her veil was gone and no longer with her.

"Ariel Edgar, second daughter of Edgar. Lived in the country side for years, returned to the city a few years ago. Useless according to the news, clumsy and easy to bully." Alan muttered like he was reciting a recitation given to him.

Ariel stifled, her eyes turned nervous, her heartbeats accelerated too. She fell back on the bed, sitting with her hand balled into a tight fist, she clenched the bed sheet so hard.

"You! You knew! Please Don't be angry with my dad, he only did this because my sister doesn't want to get married to you so he sent me instead". Ariel quickly tried to explain with her head bowed down. She was scared of the consequences her father would face if her husband got angry.

"You! You knew! Please Don't be angry with my dad, he only did this because my sister doesn't want to get married to you so he sent me instead." Ariel quickly tried to explain with her head bowed down. She was scared of the consequences her father would face if her husband got angry.

.....................

Although, her husband was just an handicapped man in the Louis Family, he was still a member of the biggest family in the city. "Please, please, don't get upset. I am pleading on my father's behalf."

Alan stared at the girl before him with a blank expression, she was pleading for her father instead of getting mad for being made to get married to an handicapped man for her sister's sake.

"Ariel Edgar, it is said that you have a fiancé and that fiancé is the eldest young master of the Louis Family. Why would you leave him behind and instead go after an handicapped man?"

Ariel turned puzzled, she raised her head and gazed at the man sitting down. "Huh?"

"You can't understand something so simple? Isn't your fiancé the eldest young master of the Louis Family? I heard you and him are so in love to the point he sends you flowers daily."

"Why would you leave the heir to an empire, the love of your life and the man of your dreams to marry an handicapped man in place of your sister?" Alan asked coldly gazing at her. Her innocent expression, was seeming so annoying to him.

"I love him, I do not know if he loves me but then my father asked me for a favour so I had to fulfill it. Moreover, it doesn't matter honestly." Ariel replied with a calm expression, a light flashed through her eyes that didn't go unnoticed by Alan.

"Or were you sent by him? To monitor what I do? Watch over me like a puppet or to kill me?" Alan pressed further still not satisfied with her answer.

Ariel frowned, "I am only here because my father asked me for a favour, nothing more, nothing less. I am married to you and not interested in anyone else."

"The moment I said I do at the altar, I meant it and forgot about everything else. Now, you are my husband and I am your wife. Ariel Edgar Louis." Ariel replied with a firm tone.

Alan's lips curled into a smirk, "No, you are not Ariel Edgar Louis, you are Ariel Alan Walker. That's what and who you are."

"Remember that and let it stick in there. Till you are married to me, you are going to answer that name." Alan remarked his expression lightening up a bit.

"Get rest, you must be tired from the wedding and the drive here. Stella will be here soon with the ointment, apply that and go to sleep." Alan remarked before wheeling his wheelchair out of the room.

Ariel sat shaken on the bed, she gazed at the door. She was Ariel Alan Walker, she finally had an identity. After so many years, her lips thinned into a little smile before it broaden further.

"A new beginning.." Ariel whispered to herself, she could not help but remember what she heard this morning. If she did not hear it, she would have continued being a fool and blind by their love display.

Now, she was going to find a life for herself that didn't involve them.

"You are smiling, it seems you have fallen in love with our young master, that was fast." Stella remarked with a teasing smile on her lips as walked into the room, she placed the ointment on the bedside table.

Ariel raised her head and returned her expression back to it being plain. "I do not know what you are talking about. You are doctor, what are you doing in the mansion? Aren't you suppose to be working?" Ariel changed the topic.

Stella giggled, it seemed she was fond of giggling, she had a beautiful giggle anyway so it was alright. "Indeed, I am a doctor that does not work. All I do is stay in my house till I am called here."

"Oh, so you are a private doctor. It must be boring then, I believe most doctors like to stay around lots of sick patients." Ariel remarked picking up the ointment from the table.

"Of course, lots of doctors love that. But I do not, I am that doctor that prefers staying all alone in my house and enjoying so karaoke and barbecue." Stella replied smiling widely.

"That's weird, unless maybe you are getting so much to work as a private doctor."

"If I say, your husband is the reason I am a doctor, will you believe me? This might sound weird but he is the reason I am a doctor indeed, I decided to treat him long ago." Stella answered cutting the words short, she didn't want to dive into the past.

"Hmmmm" Ariel nodded her head, it seems her husband has a lot of admirers and people willing to forfeit their lives for him.

Stella only smiled at her, she stood up and excused herself from the room. Walking through the corridor, she arrived outside a black door, she knocked on the door and it was pushed opened.

"Elias, where's your master?" Stella questioned, her expression morphed into a cold one seeing Elias standing there.

"He went in to clean himself, he will be out soon. The blood from the car accident has dried to his skin." Elias replied staring at the Stella from head to toe.

Soon, the study door was pushed opened. Alan rolled his wheelchair into the office, his hair was still wet and the clothes on him were also wet.

"Stella."

"Elias."

"Master, are you alright? You didn't let me check up on your wounds, it will leave a scar once again if you continue like this."

"It doesn't matter. I already have enough scars, an additional scar won't make much differences." Alan remarked, his eyes looked dead as he stared at his two trustees.

Placing his legs down from the wheels of the chair, he stretched them and then slowly he stood up on his feet.

He was tall, very tall. His long legs stood steady on the ground, although he appeared short sitting, it was not the case while he was standing.